Today was another wonderful day at Hogar Escuela. However, there was a bittersweet edge to the day. When we arrived at the school, we noticed that the first thing in the entry way was a large black bow. As we walked further into the school, we noticed two other bows beside other doors. When we inquired as to what they were for, the teachers informed us that one of their student's mother had passed away last night in the hospital from cancer. We were very saddened and shocked to hear this news, especially since the child was at school and attended VBS today. The teachers informed us that they were taking up money for the family among themselves and offered us the chance to contribute in order to help pay for the funeral and ease some of the financial strain on the family. We each offered up some of our money without hesitation and slipped the $200 in an envelope and sent it with Brian and some of the boys to the family's visitation. When they came back, they described what they had seen there. Upon entering the house, they offered their condolences and were ushered to a very small and populated room. At the center of the room was the coffin on the dining room table. The coffin was made of cheap wood, so, in an effort to improve its appearance, the family had covered it in faux fur. The room was approximately 6x8, according to the boys, and was absolutely packed. Despite the sadness they felt at bearing witness to such a hard time for the family, the boys said that they were touched by the fact that the priest of the school, the principal, the secretary, the child's teachers, the janitor, and the cook accompanied them to the visitation. It is just another custom here: to take care of each other. The family informed Brian and the boys that in order to be buried with her family, the body would be driven 16 hours to Nicaragua in the back of a very old station wagon. It is customary to have the funeral and the visitation on the same day as the funeral, so they departed soon after the visitation ended. Everyone that attended the visitation today said that it was an experience they would never forget.
VBS this morning was excellent as usual. In Arts and Crafts, the children painted cardboard boxes to look like dominos. These are for a demonstration and are a part of tomorrow's worship theme for the children. In Story, our team acted out skits to portray Jesus cleansing us of our sins. In Music, we sang Spanish versions of VBS songs like "This Little Light of Mine". In Games, we played on the playground and on the basketball court. In short, we had yet another phenomenal day playing, learning, and laughing with the children. After VBS, we had about an hour to paint before lunch. While we were painting on the outside mural, we had several interesting experiences. They included but were not limited to: buying ice cream from a man selling both ice cream and umbrellas, being given packets of laundry detergent from a promotional group in a van, and being blessed with multiple sightings of a certain Jersey Shore look-alike. After lunch, we started back up on our painting. We finished both the murals and the inside gym wall by the end of the day; much to everyone's satisfaction.
On the way back to the Diocesan House, we stopped at Kathia and Dean's house (two of Brian's very good friends) to drop Dean and Megan--Kathia and Dean's daughter--off at the house. Their family was blessed enough to be able to buy a second lot adjacent to their house in order to have a garden and yard. Kathia grows lemons, mangos, lemongrass, cas, and sugarcane. She was generous enough to harvest some of the sugar cane--with a machete--and give it to us to try on our way home to the Diocesan House.
After dinner, we had a devotion to wrap up the Fruit of the Spirit today (kindness). Immediately following devotion and our meeting to discuss our plans for tomorrow, we all worked on teacher and staff gifts and thank you notes that we will leave behind in San Jose. We are now all heading up to bed for a good night's sleep to prepare for our last day of VBS. As our stay in San Jose comes to a close, we look back on the great experiences we have had here and look forward to the great experiences we are sure to have in the next few days in Jaco.
God Bless and goodnight,
The Costa Rica Mission Team
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